• ^•^ • 



A JOURNAL 



EXPEDITION TO QUEBEC, 



IN THE YEAR 1775, 



UNDKR THK COMMAND OF COLONKL BENKDICT ARXOLP. 



By 



JAMES MELVIN 



A PRIVATE IN CAPTAIN DEARBORNS COMPANY. 




I^llilabelpliia : 

PRINTED FOR THE FRANKLIN CLUB. 
MDCCCLXTV. 



W^.Vw.VA' ' 






Edition : — 100 Copies Octavo. 
20 " Qaarto. 






INTRODUCTION. 



In the month of September, 1775, about the same time 
that Canada was invaded by the usual route from New 
York, under General Montgomery, a body of troops, 
amounting to about 1,100 men, was detached from the 
American army before Boston, and designed to invade 
the province of Canada by a new and unexpected 
route. 

The command was given to Colonel Benedict Arnold, 
an officer already well known, and remarkable for his 
bold enterprise, daring courage, and impetuous and 
determined character. The officers accompanying the 
expedition were also well known for their soldierlike 
qualities. Many of them had seen service, and were 
selected for these reasons, and the subsequent distinc- 
tion to which many of them rose, proves the wisdom 
and sagacity of the choice. 

After some delay, the troops embarked in boats at 



11 . INTRODUCTION. 

Gardiner, in Maine, and proceeded to ascend the Ken- 
nebec Eiver. Their route lay across the coast to the 
mouth of the Kennebec, thence up that river to its 
source, and thence to the River St. Lawrence. In this 
enterprise the troops encountered great difficulties, 
being obliged to contend against impetuous currents 
and deep swamps, and were frequently compelled to 
haul their canoes up rapid streams and over falls of 
water. They had, moreover, craggy precipices and 
difficult mountains to ascend ; and, in some places, were 
compelled to cut their way, for miles, through woods so 
dense that their progress was sometimes only four or 
five miles a day. In addition to this, their provisions at 
length became so scarce that some of the men were 
obliged to eat not only their dogs, but even their car- 
tridge boxes, breeches, and shoes. The constant ex- 
posure and fatigue, as well as the want of food, caused 
many to fall sick, or drop from exhaustion, and one-third 
of the original number were eventually forced to return 
to their homes. 

Notwithstanding all this, the remainder bore all their 
distresses with the greatest fortitude and constancy. 
They were encouraged by their brave commander, and 
cheered with the hope of ultimate success and the honor 
that would forever attach to them as participators in an 



INTRODUCTION. 



enterprise that would rival the exploit of Xenophon, or 
any of the other famous expeditions of antiquity. 

After a long and toilsome journey, encountering diffi- 
culties and hardships almost impossible to conceive, in 
a dense wilderness, wild and uninhabited, at a season 
of continued cold and rain, the troops finally arrived in 
the inhabited parts of Canada, to the no small surprise, 
awe and admiration of the people of that province. 

This expedition has taken a conspicuous place in the 
records of the past. The historian has dilated at length 
upon it, and the enterprise has been considered one of 
the grandest in conception, and one of the most brilliant 
in execution, of any that has ever been attempted in the 
world. 

The participators have been lauded and admired, and 
the commander has been frequently spoken of as the 
American Hannibal 

The following Journal, which was kept by one of the 
actors of that famous expedition, cannot, therefore, fail 
to be of interest. In it will be found the results of the 
enterprise, the daring and gallantry evinced in the as- 
sault of Quebec, and the final repulse of the brave 
assailants, together with the subsequent capture and in- 
carceration of a portion of them as prisoners of war. 

Of James Melvin, the author of the Journal, we have, 



INTRODUCTION. 



unfortunately, no knowledge, further than that he was 
attached to the company commanded by Captain Dear- 
born. An effort has been made to ascertain some facts 
in regard to his history, but without success. From the 
character of the Journal, the style in which it is written, 
and the beauty and distinctness, we can form no other 
conclusion than that he was a man of education, and 
that he belonged to a family of position and respecta- 
bility. 



A JOURNAL. 



Cambridge, September 13, 1T75. 

1775. 
Sept. 13. This day being Wednesday, marched from 
Cambridge, in Captain Deaeborx's ^^^ com 
pany, destined for Quebec, and were to em- 
bark at Xewbnrj^port for Kennel' ec river. 
We lodged in Medford. 

" 14. Received one month's pay, and marched to 
Lynn ; lodged at Porter's tavern. 

" 15. Marched to Ipswich. 

" 16. Marched to Newburyport ; the company were 
quartered in a rope-walk. 

" 17. Sunday — the detachments went to meeting. 

*' 18. P. M. — Embarked on board a schooner of 
seventy-five tons ; the whole were embarked 
in eleven vessels. 

** 19. About 10 o'clock sailed out of the harbor, and 
stood on and off, waiting for one of the ves- 
sels which got aground, and not getting off 
the men were put on board the other vessels, 
and we sailed in the afternoon with a fair 
wind and pleasant weather ; at night it 
grew thick and foggy, with rain, thunder, 
and lightning, and blowed fresh. 

" 20. In the morning-, foggy and wet ; lay too part 
of the night, at daybreak two of our fleet 



1775. 

were in sight, and we made sail and stood 
in for the shore. Blowed fresh — we made 
Seg-uin. 
Sept. 21. Saw two of our vessels coming out of Sheeps- 
gut river into Kennebec. We proceeded up 
the river as far as the tide would permit, 
and came to anchor within six miles of 
Fort Western. 

" 23. Arrived at Fort Western.(2) One James McCor- 
MicK^^^ shot Sergeant Bishop. 

" 25. McCoRMicK was found guilty. 

" 26. He was brought to the gallows, and reprieved. 

" 27. Got our provisions into batteaux, and went 
about four miles. 

" 28. Proceeded up the river and found the water 
shoal, which caused a rapid current, and we 
were obliged often to get out and wade, 
pulling the boat after us. 

" 30. Arrived at Fort Halifax, where was the first 
carrying-place ; the land here is better than 
that near the sea. We carried over our 
batteau and provisions ; the carrying-place 
is opposite the fort. 

Oct. 1. Proceeded up the river ; encamped in the 

" 2. woods ; went about ten miles. Cold and 
rainy. 

" 3. Came to Scowhegan Falls f*-^^ the carrying- 
place is about forty rods over a little island 

*• 4. Went up to Bumazees Ripples, and came to 
Norridgewalk. The carriage-place is about 
a mile in length. We had oxen to haul 
over our provisions. Our batteaux were 



1775. 

caulked. We were now to take our leave 
of houses and settlementSj of which we saw 
no more, except one Indian wigwam, until 
we came among the French, in Canada. 
Oct. 6. Left Norridgewalk ; w.ent about five miles. 

" 7. Went about twelve miles, and encamped. The 
land here is level and good ; the river rapid. 

" 8. Proceeded up the river, and encamped about 
five miles below the falls . 

" 9. Arrived at the great carrying-place, where was 
a log house built for the sick. 

" 10. Me. Spring, ^^^ our chaplain, went to prayers ; 
we went to the first pond, four miles from 
the river ; it blowed hard, and one of the 
' men was killed by the falling of a tree. 

" 11. Crossed the first pond about three-quarters of 
a mile over ; here is plenty of fine trout. 

" 12. There was a log house built on the first 
carrying-place, between the first and second 
ponds. 

" 13. Crossed the carrying-place from this pond to 
another ; the carrying-place is about one 
mile over. 

" 14. Crossed the pond about half a mile over, and 
got over the carrying-place about one and 
a half miles in length ; the woods are cedar 
and hemlock . 

'' 16. Crossed the third pond about one and a half 
miles over. We got over the fourth car- 
rying-place, four and a half miles in length; 
part of the way over a boggy swamp, over- 
grown with white moss and bushes, which 



ms. 

seemed half-withered ; found it difficult get- 
ting over our batteaux and barrels, sinking 
knee deep in moss and mud. We launched 
our batteaux into a small creek which en- 
ters the Dead river. 
Oct. 17. Went eighteen miles up the Dead river. 

" 18. Overtook Colonel Green ^6^ and his party about 
twenty-five miles up the Dead river ; had 
orders to put ourselves in a defensive condi- 
tion. 

" 19. Had orders to march, and went about five 
miles. 

" 20. Eained all last night, and this day. 

" 21. Marched through hideous woods and moun- 
tains for the most part, but sometimes on 
the banks of the river, which is very rapid. 

" 23. Captain Handshill,* ^''^ and sixty men, went for- 
ward, with ten days' provisions ; about forty 
sick and weak men went back with only 
two or three days' provision. The river 
here is narrow and excessive rapid. 

" 24. Continued our march, though slowly. 

" 25. Hear that Colonel iNNis'f division are gone 
back. 

" 26. Crossed the fifth carrying-place, which brought 
us to the first pond, leading to ChadeurJ 
river, 

" 27. Crossed the second carrying-place, three-quar- 
ters of a mile ; then crossed second pond, 
then third carrying-place and third pond, 

* Hauchel. f Enos. J Chaudiere. 



then fourth carrying-place and fourth pond, 
and encamped. 
Oct. 28. Came down Chadeur river in a birch canoe, 
and went to fetch back a batteau to carry 
the men across a river, but could not over- 
take them. The company were ten miles ; 
waded knee-deep among alders, &c., the 
greatest part of the way, and came to a 
river which had overflown the land. We 
stopped some time, not knowing what to 
do, and at last were obliged to wade 
through it, the ground giving way under 
us at every step. We got on a little knoll 
of land, and went ten miles, where we were 
obliged to stay, night coming on, and we 
were all cold and wet ; one man fainted in 
the water with fatigue and cold, but was 
helped along. We had to wade into the 
water, and chop down trees, fetch the wood 
out of the water after dark to make a fire 
to dry ourselves ; however, at last we got 
a fire, and, after eating a mouthful of pork, 
laid ourselves down to sleep round the fire, 
the water surrounding us close to our 
heads ; if it had rained hard it would have 
overflown the place we were in. Captain 
Gtoodkich's company had only three-quar- 
ters of a pound of pork, each man, and a 
barrel of flour among the whole. They 
ordered the batteau to proceed down the 
river with the flour, and when they came to 
the place above mentioned, waded through. 



1775. 

They came to the knoll of land before men- 
tioned, and made a fire to dry themselves, 
being almost perished. After some time 
they marched, and found the difficulty in- 
creasing, being informed they must return 
the way they came ; being night, they 
camped on the dryest spot they could find. 
Oct. 29. Being Sunday ; crossed a river after much 
fatigue and loss of time, in a birch canoe, 
and then waded to another river, about 
forty rods from the first, which we crossed 
last night. I lay at a bark house, and this 
morning went in the canoe to ferry the 
people over the two rivers above mentioned, 
leaving my provisions behind, as did Cap- 
tain Dearborn and the three other officers, 
x^fter we got over these rivers, Captain 
Dearborn, steering by a bad compass, went 
wrong about two miles, the company follow- 
ing, and we went back again, then went 
two or three miles to a little bark house, 
where 1 left my provision, and on coming 
there found that our provision was stolen by 
Captain Morgan's ^^^ company. Goodrich's 
company came to the lower end of Chadeur 
pond, expecting to find their batteau with 
the flour, but were disappointed. 

" 30. I set out in a birch-bark canoe with Captain 
Dearborn and Captain Ayres. AYe pro- 
ceeded to the lower end of the pond, where 
Captain Dearborn left the canoe, and Cap- 
tain Ayres and I proceeded down Chadeur 



in5. 

river, about three miles, and came to a 
ripply place, which was very dangerous, the 
rocks standing up all over the river. Here 
a batteau was stove, with four men, and 
one man drowned, named George Innis. I 
got safe down this place, and from bad or 
worse, proceeded till night, and encamped 
with the company. .Goodrich's company set 
out early, though on empty stomachs, and 
marched about ten miles, in hopes to over- 
take their batteau with the flour, but, com- 
ing to a small creek, they found an adver- 
tisement set up, informing them that their 
batteau was stove, and the flour lost, and 
the men with difficulty having saved their 
lives. This was melancholy news to them, 
having eaten scarcely anything for several 
days, and having waded through ice and 
water, and were a great way from any in- 
habitants, and knew not how far it was. 
They agreed to part, and the heartiest to 
push forward as fast as they could. 

Oct. 31. This day I took my pack, and went by land, 
all the way, to inhabitants. I was not well, 
having the flux. We went twenty-one 
miles. Goodrich's company marched three 
miles, and were overtaken by Captain 
Smith,'^^^ who informed them that Captain 
Goodrich had left two quarters of a dog for 
them. They stopped and sent for the meat, 
but the men returned without finding it ; 
however, some of them killed another dog 



1775. 

which belonged to us, which probably saved 
some of their lives, ^i*^^ Captain Ward's 
company killed another dog. 
Nov. 1. Continued unwell ; this day I eat the last of 
my provision ; I kept with the company, and 
we went twenty miles. 

" 2. Traveled four miles ; I shot a small bird called 
a Sedee, and a squirrel, which I lived upon 
this day. About noon we met some French- 
men, with cattle for our army, and some 
meal in a canoe. I had a small piece of 
meat and bread given me ; yesterday my 
messmates gave away victuals to stran 
gers, but refused me, though they knew I 
had mine stolen from me. This evening, to 
our great joy, we arrived at the first French 
house where was provision ready for us. 
The first victuals I got was some boiled 
rice, which I bought of the Indians, giving 
one shilling and four pence for about a pint 
and a half. Here we were joined by about 
seventy or eighty Indians, all finely ornal 
mented in their way with brooches, brace- 
lets, and other trinkets, and their faces 
painted. I had gone barefoot these two or 
three days, and wore my feet sore. 

" 3. Snowed all day ; marched about nine miles, 
when we drawed provisions. 

" 4. Marched about thirteen miles. 

" 5. Sunday — Marched about twelve miles. Our 
Colonel went forward and got beef killed for 
us every ten or twelve miles, and served us 



potatoes instead of bread. I stood sentry 
over one Flood, who was whipped for steal- 
ing Captain Dearborn's pocket-book. This 
was at St. Mary's. 
Nov. 6. Marched twenty miles ; very bad traveling, 
as it was all the way to Quebec. Twelve 
miles was through woods, in the night, mid- 
leg in mud and snow. I traveled the whole 
day without eating, and could not get any 
house to lay in, but lodged in a barn all 
night. 

" 7. Marched fifteen miles ; snowed all day. My 
money being gone I could get nothing to 
eat until night, when there was an ox 
killed. 

•' 8. Marched six miles and came to point Levi, on 
the River St. Lawrence, opposite Quebec. 

" 9. Our people took a prisoner, who was a mid 
shipman.^^^^ Continued at Point Levi ; kept 
guard along the river-side, making scaling- 
ladders, and collecting canoes to cross the 
river ; the enemy having broken all the 
boats they could find. 

" 13. In the evening crossed St. Lawrence at the 
mill above Point Levi, and landed at Wolfe's 
cove. I went back twice, to fetch over the 
people, and stayed till day. The town was 
alarmed by our Colonel firing at a boat on 
the river. We went to Major Caldwell's 
house/^^^ about two miles from the city, 
where we were quartered ; a whole company 
having only one small room. 



10 

nt5. 

Nov. 14. One of our sentries^'^^ was taken bj^ the enemy, 
which alaraied us ; we expected they were 
come to give us battle, and the whole de- 
tachment marched within musket-shot of 
; the wall, but saw none to oppose us, but 

when we were turned to go back they fired 
several cannon shots at us, without doing- 
any damage. 

" 15. The detachment went out on a scout ; I went 
on guard at Wolfe's cove. 

" IT. Went on guard at Wolfe's cove. 

" 19. I was employed all the fore-part of last night 
in butchering for the army, and about four 
in the morning got on our march, and went 
to Point aux Trembles, about twenty-six 
miles above Quebec. We kept guard at the 
Eiver Caroche. 

" 21. 7^o^i(iaz/— Lieutenant HuTCHiNs and sixty men, 
went up to meet and convoy a quantity of 
gunpowder, clothes, &c. 

" 28. I went on guard at a bridge, six miles from 
Quebec ; stood sentry two hours, and off one, 
every night where I continued, until the 
army came down to Quebec. 
Dec. 3. The cannon were sent down the river in bat- 
teaux, and landed in the night. 

" 5. The detachment marched on their way to Que- 
bec. We were quartered in a nunnery, near 
the town, but it was wanted for a hospital, 
and we went over the River St. Charles, 
where we continued. 

" 10. Sundai/ — Busy making scaling-ladders, &c. 



11 



1775. 

Nov. 25. Had orders to give our opinion whether to scale 
or not. 

" 26. Turned out to storm the town, but it was too 
light. 

" 31. Sunday — About four in the morning, were 
mustered, in order to storm the town ; it 
snowed and stormed, and was very dark. 
Our company had not timely notice of the 
attack, which occasioned us to be too late, 
for when the firing began we had a mile and 
a half to march. We made all possible haste 
and met Colonel Arnold^^^^ going back 
wounded. I was on guard in St. Roque that 
night, and went forward with the main 
body, and was not with the company. The 
company went beyond Palace Gate, the 
enemy firing briskly at them from the walls, 
and killed two or three. The enemy sallied 
out, and they surrendered, as did all the de- 
tachment, except some few who made their 
escape.^^*^^ We were put into a monastery, 
among the friars ; at night we had some bis- 
cuit distributed among us.^"^ 



Jannary, 1776 — Prisoner in Ctnebec- 

Jan. 1. We had a straw bed between two, and a 
blanket, each man, served to us. We had 
some porter given us. Snowed in the morn- 
ing. 



12 



1776. 
Jan. 3. We were ordered to give a list of our names 
age, where born, and what regiment we be- 
longed to. Snowed in the morning. 

" 4. All the old countrymen were called into ano- 
ther room and examined. Snowed in the 
morning. 
5. They were called for again, and made to take 
arms for the King until the 31st May. 

" 6. Fair weather ; they were taken out. 

" 7. Some of our people taken with the small-pox. 
Fair weather. 

" 8. Snowed in the morning. 

** 9. Very dark weather, and snowed. Some more 
taken with the small-pox, and we expect it 
will be a general disorder, for we are very 
thick, nasty, and lousy. Our living is salt 
pork, biscuit, rice, and butter, and a suffi- 
ciency allowed, if we were not checked in 
our weight by one Dewey, who is appointed 
our quartermaster sergeant, to deal out our 
provisions ; and instead of being our friend, 
proves our greatest enemy, defrauding us of 
great part of our provision. We have not 
above three ounces of pork a day, and not a 
half-pint of rice and two biscuits a day. 

10. Fair, but excessive cold. I went to the hos- 

pital, having the small-pox. 

11. A snow storm ; lasted two days and nights. 

12. Snowed all day ; cleared at night. 

13. Snowed all day. 

14. Sunday — Fair, but very cold. 

15. An excessive cold snow storm. 



13 



nt6. 

Jan. 16. Fair weather ; snowed all next night. 

" 17. Snowed all day. 

" 18. Cloudy and cold. Several taken with the small- 
pox; went to the hospital; some of our men's 
clothes brought into town from our army> 
but none for our company. I am now got 
almost well, having had the small-pox light- 
ly. A Frenchman being at the point of death 
the nuns came and read over him, after- 
wards the priest came in ; then they fetched 
in a table covered with a white cloth, and 
lighted two wax candles, about three feet 
long, and set them on the table. The priest 
put on a white robe over his other garments, 
and the nuns kneeled down, and the priest 
stood and read a sentence, and then the 
nuns a sentence, and so they went on some 
time ; then the priest prayed by himself ; 
then the nuns, and then the priest again ; 
then they read all together a spell, and final- 
ly the priest alone ; then the priest stroked 
the man's face, and then they took away 
their candles, and tables, &c., and the man 
died. 

" 19. Cloudy and cold. 

" 20. Dewey complained of fifteen of our men who 
had agreed to fight their way out ; two of 
them were put in irons. 

" 21. Cloudy and cold ; cleared in the afternoon. 
We were ordered to make a return of all 
the tradesmen among us. About this time 
two of our company, who were 'listed into 



14 



1776. 



the King's service, made their escape out 
of town. This day I came out of the hospi- 
tal. 
Jan. 22. Last night our army burnt four of the enemy's 
vessels. Cloudy and cold ; cleared in the 
afternoon. 

" 23. Cloudy. 

" 24, Cloudy ; snowed in the morning. 

" 25. Fair weather. 

'' 26. Cloudy and cold. 

" 27. Fair weather. 

" 28. Sunday — Clear and excessive cold. 

" 29. Clear and excessive cold. 

" '61. The time seems very long ; no employment. 
Nothing heard or seen but playing at cards, 
swearing, and some playing away all their 
allowance of victuals : some employ them- 
selves in making wooden spoons, little 
boxes, &c. ; cloudy. 



February, 1776- 

Feb'y 1. Clear weather. 

" 2. A pleasant day. 

" 3. Clear weather. 

" 4. Sunday — Clear and cold. 

" 5. Cold and windy ; snowed at night. 

" 6. Clear weather. 

" 7. Thick weather. 

♦' 8. Clear and cold. 



15 



me. 

Feb'j 9. Cold and snowed. 

" 10. An excessive bad snow storm ; some sentries 
froze dead. 

" 11. Sunday — Cleared up in the night, and was a 
fair day. 

** 12. Pleasant weather. Our men take the small- 
pox fast. 

" 13. Fair and cold. 

" 14. Fair weather. 

" 15. Clear weather. One of our men named Parrot, 
put in irons for calling one of the emigrants 
a tory. Our army opened a battery. 

" 16. All the old countrymen brought into prison 
again, because six of them deserted last 
night. 

" 18. Sunday — Clear weather. 
' " 19. do do 

" 20. do do 

" 21. Thick weather. 

" 22. Clear weather. 

" 23. Cloudy and windy. 

" 24. Various reports concerning us ; some say we 
shall be sent to England and sold as slaves 
to some island ; others say that we shall be 
sent lo Boston and exchanged ; others say 
that we shall certainly be hanged ; but we 
are in hopes that our people will release us 
by taking the town. 

" 25. Sunday — Fair weather. 

'' 26. Thick weather. 

** 27. Snowed in the morning and thawed at night. 

" 28. Snowed in the morning and thawed all day. 
" 29. Fair and cold. 



16 



Marcli, 1776. 
1776. 
March 1. Clear and cold ; one Brown put in irons for 
answering" one of the sentries who abused 
him. 

" 2. Snowed in the morning ; clear and cold all 
daj'. 

" 3. Sunday — Clear and cold. 
4. Clear. 

" 5. Cloudy, windy, and cold , snowed at night. 

" 6. Cold weather ; hail and rain. 

" 7. Clear weather. 

" 8. Clear and cold. 

" 9. The town was alarmed. 

" 10. Sunday. 

** 13. We were removed to the gaol, near St. John's 
gate, which is bomb-proof Here we have 
the libertj^ of a 3^ard of about a quarter of 
an acre. 

" 16. Eained all day. 

" 17. Sunday. — Pleasant weather. The guard set 
over us are old Frenchmen and boys, who 
are very saucy, telling us we shall be hang- 
ed ; pointing their bayonets at us ; threat- 
ening to shoot us for opening a window, or 
any such trifle. 

" 18. Pleasant weather. 

" 19. Snowed. 

" 20. Snowed in the morning ; clear at night 

" 21. Clear and cold. The French guard of boj^s 
and old men are very saucy — threatening 
us daily. 



17 



me. 

March 22. Cloudy and cold. 

" 24. Sunday — Cold and squally. 

'' 25. Clear and cold. 

** 26. Last night one of our men escaped out of 
gaol, and got clear. About this time a plan 
was laid for our enlargement, and we pre- 
pared to break out, and make our escape by 
seizing the guard. Clear and cold. 

27. Clear and cold. 

28. Clear and cold. 

29. Clear ; a warm sun. 

30. Clear ; a warm sun. 

31. Sunday — Snowed ; our scheme found out ; 
the sentry hearing some noise in the cellar, 
search was made, and some suspicion raised 
which might have passed off, had not one 
of our own men, John Hall, discovered the 
whole affair, and all the sergeants and cor- 
porals were put in irons.^^^^ 



April, 1776, 

April 1. Fair weather. This morning the guard turned 
out and fired some time before the gaol ; 
then the alarm-bell rang ; and the cannon 
on the walls were fired in order to draw our 
army near the walls that they might cut 
them off with grape-shot. This day we 
were almost all in irons. 
" 2. Pleasant weather. 



18 

1776. 
April 3. Cannonading on both sides. Our army are 

erecting a battery at Point Levi. Cloudy, 

and rained in the afternoon. 
" 4. Squally. 
*' 5. Fair weather. 
** 6. Cloudy and cold. 

" 7. Sunday. 
8. Cloudy. 

** 9. Warm weather. 

" 10. Fair weather. 

" 11. Very windy last night ; rained in the after- 
noon. 

" 12. Cloudy and snowed. 

" 13. A raw air, 

" 14. Sunday — Major McKenzie came in and took 
Captain Morgan's company out of irons. 
Clear in the morning ; cloudy almost all day. 

" 15. This day the Yorkers' time was out, and they 
wanted to go home, but were compelled to 
stay. 

" 16. Clear morning ; clouded up soon. 

" 17. Had a week't? allowance of fresh beef, which 
had been killed three or four months, of 
which they boasted much, telling us it was 
more tlian our army could get. Windy and 
cold. 

" 18. Cloudy morning ; clear afternoon ; cannonad- 
ing on both sides. 

" 19. Cloudy and cold. 
20. Cloudy. 

" 21. Sunday — Pleasant. They fired heavy can- 
non in the city. 



19 



ine. 

April 22. The time seems long ; all in irons, though 
most of us pull them off at night. I never 
lay but two nights with them on. 

" 23. Cold and squally. 

" 24. Fair and windy. 

" 25. Our army began to cross the river to and from 
Point Levi. Fair weather. 

" 26. Cloudy and some raiii'; the ground one-half 
bare of snow. 

" 27. Cloudy. 

" 28. Some of our officers tried to make their escape, 
but were discovered, and put in irons. Fair 
weather. 

" 29. Pleasant weather. 

" 30. Foggy and rainy. 



May, 1776. 

May 1. Cloudy ; snowed in the morning. 

" 2. Fair and cold. Fired brisk on both sides. 

" 3. Heard cannon fired at some distance. 

" 4. At nine or ten o'clock at night, the town was 
alarmed by a fire-ship from our people, 
which did no damage. 

" 5. Sunday — Rained in the morning ; cleared to- 
wards night. 

" 6. Pleasant. About sunrise the town was alarm- 
ed, and three ships came up, landed some 
troops, and sailed up the river. The troops 
marched out at noon, and our army retreated, 
leaving a few sick men behind them, who 
were brought into the town. ^^®^ 



20 



me. 

May *r General Carleton ^"^"^ came in and ordered 
our irons to be taken off. Pleasant day. 

" 8. Cloudy. Hear many improbable stories about 
Boston, New York, &c. 

" 9. Rainy day. Six prisoners were brought into 
gaol. 

" 10. Two riflemen were taken out of gaol ; we 
don't know on what terms — same day, two 
Jersey dumpling-eaters were brought in ; 
they were found among the bushes, not 
having tried to make their escape, being too 
heavy laden with dumplings and pork, hav- 
ing forty pounds of pork, a knapsack full of 
dumplings, and a quantity of flour. Fair in 
the morning ; rained at night. 

" 11. Fair weather. A party of King's troops 
marched. 

12. Sunday — Clear weather. 

13. Fair ; a raw wind. 

14. Fair ; a ship sailed for England. 

15. Fair ; a raw wind. 

16. Fair and clear. 
It. Fair. 

18. Pleasant weather; hear that Major Meigs ^^'' 
and Captain Dearborn are gone home. 

19. Sunday — Fair weather. 

20. Cloudy and showery. Light infantry and 
grenadiers marched. 

21. Cloudy, and a raw wind. 

22. Pleasant weather. 

23. Pleasant weather. 



21 



1776. 

May 24. Pleasant weather. 

" 25. Rained in the afternoon. Sergeant Bo^'d '^-- 
brought back to prison. 

26. Sunday. 

27. Pleasant. Ten ships arrived with troops. 

28. Clear and windy. 

29. Fair. 

30. Fair : clondv at night. 

31. Fair : some troops marched. 



J-ane, 17 7 G.- 
June 1. The Bruus wickers arrived ; said to be six 

thousand, "-'^s) 
" 2. Sunday — Fair weather, 
" 3. Warm ; cloudy at night. 
" 4. A royal salute fired, being the King's birthday. 

Cloudy. 
" 5. Pleasant weather. Gov. Carletox came in to 

us, and offered to send us home on condition 

not to bear arms^gain. 
" 6. Cloudy ; rained at night. Sent the Governor 

an answer to his proposal. 
" 7. Cloudy and windy. 

" 8. Fair weather. Hear that there are three thou- 
sand of our men at Sartigan. 
" ^.Sunday — Fair weather. Hear that they landed 

three thousand men, and our army defeated 

them. 
" 10, Fair weather. Hear that two thousand of our 

men were surrounded and taken. 



22 

1776. 
June 1 1 . Very pleasant. 

" 12. Fair weather. 

'' 13. Fair weather. Hear they have taken two hun- 
dred of our men, who are to be sent to Hali- 
fax. Heard that our men had sunk the Com- 
modore. 

" 14. Raw, cold wind. 

" 15. Rained at nig4it. 

" 16. Fair weather. 

" 17. Fair weather. Hear that our army have killed 
and taken four thousand Dutchmen. 

" 18. Clear morning ; cloudy afternoon. 

" 19. A thunder-storm, with hail-stones as big as 
2-oz. balls ; a young woman was killed by 
lightning. 

" 20. A fair morn ; a shower in the afternoon. 

" 21. Fair weather. 

*' 22. A fair morn ; rained in the evening. 

" 23. Sunday — Fair weather. Hear that our men 
drove the King's troops. 

" 24. Fair. Hear that our army have retreated out 
of Canada. 

" 25. Fair weather. Hear that they have brought 
three hundred Jersey blues, prisoners, to 
town. 

" 26. Fair weather. 

" 27. Fair. Two ships came up in the morning. 

" 28. Fair and warm. 

" 29. Fair weather. Hear that peace is proclaimed; 
also, that they have killed four thousand of 
our men and taken ten thousand, and that 
General Washington is killed. 



23 

1776. 
June 30. Sunday — We hear there is a French fleet come 
in at Philadelphia, of seventy sail. Two 
ships came up to Quebec. 



J-aly, 1776. 

July 1. Fair weather ; a thunder-shower at night. 
Hear of the Indians scalping* our people at 
Three Rivers. 

'' 2. Lowery weather. 

" 3. Showery weather ; cleared in the afternoon. 

" 4. Fair weather. We hear that they are waiting 
for some officers, that they have taken, to 
come here, and then we shall be exchanged. 
Two prisoners brought in. Thunder at 
night. 

" 5. Rainy morn ; clear afternoon. One of our 
men was so indiscreet as to pull out one of 
the iron bars, in sight of the sentry. When 
he was relieved he fetched the officer of the 
guard, and showed him what had been 
done, and search being made, some more 
were found out, which caused much sus- 
picion of us all. The prisoners brought 
in last night, inform us that the Indians 
scalped many of our soldiers, some of them 
alive ; but General Carleton, to his great 
honor, has refused to pay those murdering 
fiends for any more scalps, but will pay 
them the same reward for every prisoner. 

" 6. Fair weather. Saw three ships working in. 
The man who pulled out the grate was 



24 

1776. 

informed of, so that ^Ye hope it will have no 
ill-effect. 
Julj 7. Sunday — Some showers in the morning'. The 
man who pulled out the grate beat the man 
who informed of him, and he complained to 
the Provost. We hear that they have sent 
an express to the Governor, informing him 
we have made another attempt to break 
out ; we have also, a report that our officers 
had attempted to set the place they were 
confined in, on fire. This, as well as many 
more reports, are not worth belief. 

" 8. Pleasant weather. Hear that Colonel McLane 
is taken. 

" 9. Hear that we are to go home soon. Pleasant 
weather. 

" 10. Very fine weather. 

" 11. Fine morning ; rained in the afternoon and 
night. Hear that Colonel McLane is taken, 
and two thousand of their men, crossing the 
lake, and that there is a French fleet coming 
here. We also hear that the Grerman troops 
are to return home. 

" 12. Rained almost all day. Hear that we are to 
sail for New York in less than ten days. 

" 13. Fair and warm. 

" 14. Sunday — Fair weather. We hear we are to 
embark to-morrow. 

" 15. Fair and moderate. Hear the Governor is ex- 
pected in town soon, and then it will be 
known what will be done with us. 

" 16. Showery. 



25 



1TT6. 
July IT. Showery ; cold. We have bread served to us 
instead of our allowance of butter. 

" 18. Fair and temperate. Hear that Colonel Mc- 
Lane is come to town, and that the Govern- 
or is expected every minute. 

" 19. Cloudy and cold; the weather is so cold that 
the Canadians do not expect a good crop of 
corn. It is so cold as to wear a great coat. 
We hear that Colonel McLaxe says we shall 
not be sent home. 

'' 20. Fair weather. Coxxob, one of the prisoners 
wha came into gaol last, was taken and put 
into some other place of confinement, and, 
as we suppose, put in irons for talking im- 
pertinently to the Captain of the Provost 
Guard. 

" 21. Rainy weather, with thunder. Hear that we 
are to go home very soon ; heard from our 
officers, who gave us encouragement. We 
have also a report that the French, Span- 
iards, and Prussians, are at war with Great 
Britain, and that there is a large fleet in the 
Bay of St. Lawrence. 

" 22. Fair weather. Saw a ship sail out. This 
afternoon the Governor arrived from the 
army, and was saluted with fifteen guns. 
This gives us hopes that we shall be sent 
home. 

" 23. Cloudy morning ; fair all day. One of our 
company is out of his right mind. 

" 24. Rainy weather fore part of the day. We hear 
we are to be sent to Montreal and exchang- 
ed. 



I 



26 



ltt6. 
July 25. Fair. Hear we are not to go home. 

" 26. Some rain. We hear that the Governor has 
sent to let our officers know that within 
three days he will appoint a day when to 
send us home. Saw a brig and a ship come 
in. 

" 27. Fair weather. We hear that the Governor 
has let our officers know that he will send 
us home on the 4th or 5th of August. This 
day we saw the French priest going to visit 
a sick person. He was attended by about 
twenty people, as follows : First, a man 
goes ringing a little hand-bell ; then two 
men, or bo3^s, carrying two lanthorns, with 
lighted candles, on poles about ten feet 
long ; then comes the priest, under a cano- 
py, supported by two men ; it is like the 
toaster of a bed. The priest is dressed in 
white linen robes over his black clothes, 
and things as heavy as boards are tied to 
his knees, and hang dangling and knocking 
against his shins. They have crosses on 
these two things. After the priest, follow 
the friends and children of the sick person, 
and any others that happen to be going that 
way, who think they are doing good to join 
in with the rest. Every one that hears the 
bell is obliged to kneel down while they 
pass by. The priest has a great cross upon 
his breast, and a thing of wooden beads 
hanging by his side. The people all have 
these beads when they go to church, to help 
. them remember their prayers. They also 



27 

1776. 

use the same ceremony when they go to a 
burying, and have choristers singing before 
the corpse. 
July 28. Fair weather. This day, Mr. Murray, barrack- 
master, came in and told us we were to sail 
in a week. We now begin to believe there 
is something in it, though we have had so 
many different reports that we can scarce 
believe anything we hear. We are all to 
have a shirt apiece given us. 

'' 29. Rainy weather. Sias, the man who is out of 
his senses, grows worse, talking of killing 
some of the people, &c. 

*' 30. Fair weather, except a shower or two. 

** 31. Fair weather. We hear a report that our 
army have re-entered Canada, and retaken 
Fort St. John's. We have been seven months 
in prison to-day. 



August, 1776. 

Aug. 1. Rainy weather. 

" 2. Fair weather. The news to-day is, that our 
people have wounded the German General, 
mortally, and taken five hundred prisoners 
at Lake Champlain, We have it confirmed 
that we are to go on board the vessel on 
Sunday next. 
3. Fair weather. Hear that our sick men, at the 
hospital, are to go on board this evening. 
We expect to go to-morrow morning. 



28 



1776. 
Aug". 4. Sunday — Fair weather. 

" 5. Fair weather. This afternoon we have each 
of us a shirt given to ns, and thirty-five 
of our men were sent on board, after sign- 
ing the paper. 



END OF JOURNAL. 



29 
NOTES. 



(1.) Henry Dearborn was born ia Hampton, N. H. , in the month of March, 1751. 
He was engaged in the battle of Breed's Hill, and held, at that time, a 
captain's commission. In September following, he accompanied Arnold in 
the expedition to Quebec. In the assault on the city, he was taken pri- 
soner and kept in close confinement until May, 1776, when he was released 
on parole. He was afterwardspromoted to Major, and subsequently Lieut. - 
Colonel, and on the death of Colonel Scammel, he succeeded to the command 
of the regiment. He was engaged in the battles of Saratoga and Mon- 
mouth, and was at Yorktown at the surrender of Cornwallis. At the 
peace, having emigrated to Maine, he was appointed by Washington, in 
1789, Marshal of that district. He was twice member of Congress. 
On the accession of Jefferson to the Presidency, in 1801, he was appointed 
Secretary of War, which office he held for eight years, discharging its 
duties faithfully. In 1809, he was made Collector of Boston, and on January 
27, 1812, became Senior Major-General in the United States Army. In the 
spring of 1813, he captured York, in Upper Canada, and Fort George, at the 
mouth of the Niagara River ; but was recalled, and soon afterwards placed 
in command of the military district of New York. He resigned his com- 
mission in the army in 1815, and on May 7, 1822, was appointed Minister to 
Portugal, where he remained two years, and was recalled at his own request. 
He died in Roxbury, Mass., on the 6th day of June, 1829, aged 78. 

(2.) Fort Western is opposite the present town of Augusta, Maine. The fort was 
formed by two block-houses and a large house 100 feet long, and the whole 
inclosed with pickets. The fort was erected in the year 1754. 

(3.) James McCormick was a resident of North Yarmouth, and belonged to Colonel 
Scammel's regiment. He was an ignorant man, but had previously borne 
a good character. 

(4.) ScowHEGAN Falls is about five miles east of the village of Norridgewock, at a 
point where the river separates the present town of Bloomfield on the 
south from Milburne on the north. These falls are about seventeen miles 
from Fort Halifax. 

(5.) Re^^. Samuel Spring, was a native of Northbridge, Mass., and was born on 
the 27th day of February, 1746. He accompanied Arnold in the expedi- 
tion to Quebec as chaplain. On his return home he was ordained as a min- 
ister. He was engaged in his vocation inNewburj port, Mass., for many years. 
He died on the 4th day of March, 1819, at the age of 73. The Rev. Gar- 
diner Spring, of the Brick Church, in New York, is his son. 



ao 



(6.) Christopher Greexe was boru in Warwick. R. I., in the year 1737. He re- 
ceived a good education. He was a member of the Colonial Legislature of 
his State, and was a lieutenant and afterwards major of the Kentish Guards. 
In the assault on Quebec he was made prisoner, and on his release was 
promoted to lieutenant-colonel. He gained great applause for his gallant 
repulse of the enemy at Red Bank, and was voted a sword by Congress. 
He was killed near the Croton River, Westchster Co., New York, by a 
party of Tories and refugees, on the 13th day of May, 1781. in the 44th 
year of his age. 

(7.) BL\NCHEL. "Headquarters before Quebec, December 26." '•! have disco- 
vered that three companies of Colonel Arnold's detachment are very 
averse to a coup-de-main. Captain Hanchel, who has incurred Colonel 
Arnold's displeasure, is at the bottom of it. A field officer is concerned in 
it. This dangerous party threatens the ruin of our affairs." — Extract from 
General Montgomery- s letter. Dunlop's History of Ntw York, vol. 2. j). 24. 

(8.) Daxiel Morgan was a native of New Jersej^, but removed in early life to Vir- 
ginia. In 1755, he joined the expedition r f Braddock,as a teamster ; return- 
ing to Frederick, he pursued the rough life of a backwoods farmer, until the 
outbreak of the Revolution, when, in command of a company of riflemen, 
he started for Boston, reaching the American camp, after a march of 600 
miles, in three weeks. In the latter part of 1775, he accompanied the expe- 
dition of Arnold to Quebec, and was engaged in the attack on that place, and 
taken prisoner. Daring his captivity he declined the offer of a colonelcy in 
the British army, and soon after his release, towards the close of 1776, was 
appointed colonel of the regiment. He rendered valuable service during 
the retreat of Washington through New Jersey, in 1776, and also in the 
campaign in the same State, in 1777. In the summer of the latter year, he 
joined Gates, then in command of the Northern army, and his riflemen took 
a distinguished part iu the battle on Bemus' Heights Morgan was also 
present at the battle of Saratoga, and one of his riflemen, named Murphy, 
killed General Fraser, and decided the day. In 1780, he was made Brigadier 
General, and joined the Southern armj^, under Greene, and gained a decisive 
victory over Tarleton, at the Cowpens, January 17, 1781, for which he 
received a gold medal from Congress. Before the close of the campaign he 
was compelled, by repeated attacks of rheumatism, to return to his home 
in Virginia. In 1794, he aided in suppressing the whisky insurrection in 
Pennsylvania, and was member of Congress from 1795 to 1799. He died in 
Winchester, Virginia, July 6, 1802, aged 69. 

(9.) Captain Matthew Smtth commanded a company from the county of Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania. He was a good-looking man, had the air of a soldier, but 
was illiterate, and outrageously talkative. 

(10.) This dog belonged to Captain Dearborn, and was a great favorite. " My dog 
was very large, and a great favorite. I gave him up to several of Captain 
Goodrich's company. They carried him to their company, and killed and 
divided him among those who were suffering most severely with hunger. 
They ate every part of him, not excepting the entrails." — Letter of General 
Dearborn to the Rev. Wm. Allen. 



31 

(11.) Samuel Wabd was the son of Governor Ward, of Rhode Island. He was at 
Cambridge in 1775, where he held a captaincy. He was afterward at 
Quebec, under Arnold, and subsequently at the battle of Red Bank, under 
Colonel Greene. After the war he became a merchant. He died in New 
York, in the year 1832, at the age of 75. 

(12.) " The boat soon struck the bank, and a midshipman, a lad named McKenzie, 
brother to the captain of the frigate, sprang ashore. The tide ebbing at 
the time, the boat's crew were ordered to shove off, and to go higher up to 
a deeper landiog-place. While obeying this order they discovered the Ameri- 
cans on the bank above, and immediately pulled off shore, leaving their 
officer to his fate. Morgan, frustrated in the design he had formed to sur- 
prise and capture the boat's crew, now opened a fire upon them. The mid- 
shipman, comprehending at once his situation, plunged into the river, 
in the hope to regain his boat ; but being deserted by the boat's crew, 
who puiled out still further from the reach of danger, and noticing the 
balls, which now struck the water around him in fearful proximity to 
his head, he turned towards the shore, and otherwise signified his willing 
ness to surrender." — Life of General Morgan, p. 79. 

(13.) " This was a great pile of wooden buildings, with numerous out-houses, which 
testified the agricultural spirit and taste of the owner. He, good soul, was 
then snug in Quebec. Those who came first fared well, and, as luck would 
have it, we were of the number : all within and without the house became 
a prey. Adversity had destroyed in our minds every decorous or delicate 
sensation.'' — Henry's Journal, p. 85. 

(li.) The name of this person was George Merchant. He belonged to Ca; tain Mor- 
gan's company, and was a native of Virginia. He was taken by surprise, 
and was the first prisoner which was taken by the British at Quebec. He 
was sent to England, but released the following year. 

(15.) Benedict Arnold, was a native of Norwich, Connecticut, and was born on the 
3d day of January, 1741. On account of his bold and fearless character, he 
was selected to make an attack upon Canada. In the assault upon Quebec, 
he was wounded and taken prisoner. Upon his release he was engaged in 
the service on Lake Champlain, where he greatly distinguished himself, and 
he also did subsequently in the battle of Saratoga. He afterwards held 
command at West Point, and there concocted the treason which has made 
his name infamous to every friend of America. After the war , Arnold went 
to England, and after leading, for some years, a roving life, he returned to 
London, where he died in 1801, at the age of sixty. 

(16.) In the action, Captain Dearborn, who had been quartered on the north side of 
the River St. Charles, marched to join the main body, but, in the attempt, 
was captured, with his company, by Captain Law, who issued from Palace 
Gate, with two hundred men and some cannon.* 



Allen's Biographical Diet 



32 

(17.) The following is a list of the officers taken by the British at the attack upon 
Quebec, on the 31st day of December, 1775 : Capt. D. Morgan, Lieut. William 
Heath, Lieut. Peter Bruin (slightly wounded), J. M. Guin, Charles Potter- 
lield, Lieut. Archibald Steele (wounded), John Henry, Lieut. Francis Ni- 
choUs, Matthew Duncan, Major John Lamb, Lieut. Andrew Moody, Capt. 
Oliver Hanchjt, Capt. Samuel Lockwood, Abijah Savage, Quartermaster 
Benjamin Catlin, Capt. Eleazer Oswold, Col. C. Green, Captain L Tappan 
(wounded), Capt, Samuel Ward, Capt. Simon Mayer, Lieut. James Webb, 
Lieut. William Humphreys, Lieut. E. Slocum, S. Shaw, Major Timothy Bige 
low, Capt. William Goodrich, Lieut. Sam el Brown, Lieut. John Compton, 
Lieut. John Clark, Lieut. James Tislale (wounded), Capt. H. Dearborn, 
Lieut. Nathaniel Hatchins, Lieut. Ammi Andrews, Lieut. Joseph Thomas , 
Adjutant C. Foberger (a Danish officer) , and about three hundred privates, 
— [Connecticut Courant.] 

(18.) The officers were confined in the Seminary, and the soldiers in the Jesuit's 
College or RecoUets, and were treated by Carleton with a humanity very 
honorable to his character. In one of his letters he says, that March 31, 
1776, he discovered a plot of the prisoners to escape, after seizing the guard 
at St. John's Gate, and let in Arnold. Of this plot, Mr. Henry, who was 
engaged in it, gives a minute account. The prisoners had been removed to 
the Dauphm jail, an old French building, about three huudred yards from 
St. John's Gate. Their ingenuity soon supplied them with arms; for peeping 
through the key -hole of the door of a small room at the stair-head, they 
perceived large iron hoops. Of tliese, by forcing the door, a large number 
was obtained, as well as a quantity of iron of different shapes. Rough, 
stout swords, with wooden handles, were made, and spear-heads were fash- 
ioned a;id affixed to spl.ts of fir plank, about ten feet in length, which had 
formed the bottoms of the lowest berths. The proposed method of escape 
was by removing the bars of their windows and by the cellar door, which 
opened inward, and the rings and padlock of which were inside, and within 
their reach. Joseph Aston, of Lamb's company, afterwards a major, was 
chosen commander-in-chief of the prisoners ; McKay and others were colo- 
nels ; Boyd, Henry aud others were majors, captains, &c. Getting into the 
street, one party was to attack the guard-house, near the jail, aud another 
party, of one hundred and fifty men, were to attack the guard of thirty or 
forty men at St. John's Gate ; the jail and buildings near were to be set on 
fire the same time, by way of signal to Arnold, who had been made acquaint- 
ed with the project by Martin, a prisoner, who, in a storm of snow, had 
clambered over the wall of the prison, and escaped the sentries, and threw 
himself from the wall of the city, southerly of St. John's Gate. If the guard 
should be overcome at St. John's Gate, the cannon were to be turned upon 
the city. As some matches might be necessary in that event, and there 
would be occasion for powder, it was procured in the following ingenious 
way. Some small-gun carriages were made, mounted with paper cannon, a 
few inches in length. Embrasures were cut with a knife in the front boards 
of the berths on opposite sides of the room ; and two parties were formed 
for the pigmy contest. The blaze and report, as loud as small pistols, 
created much mc.rimcnt. For this sport many cartridges were obtained, 



33 

most of wbicli were carefially laid aside for other purposes. Some money 
was also obtained from charitable nuns, who visited the prison ; but ob- 
tained in a method remarkable rather for ingeiiuity than fairness or pro- 
priety, for it was thought^that all artificesi;were allowable, especially, as 
life was to be hazarded for liberty. Once a nun was seen approaching ; 
when Doctor Gibson, who had studied physic at Cornish, and who after 
wards died at Valley Forge, in the winter of 1778, a young man of ruddy 
cheeks and with a beautiful head of hair,- was hurried into bed, to play the 
part of a man sick with a high fe\cr. The nun being introduced, crossed 
herself and whispered an Ave Maria or Pater Noster, poured the contents 
of her purse, twenty -four coppers, iuto^the hand of the patient. The money 
procured powder, and the manner of obtaining it occasioned some merri- 
ment to cheer the gloom of a prison . 

Everything being prepared and arranged by the council of war, the mo- 
ment of executing the long-meditated plan was fixed. A spring of water in 
the cellar, which furnished the supply of water to the prisoners, had accu- 
mulated a considerable quantity of ice atthe foot of the door, which was to 
be the sally-port. Immediately;;after the locking up, sixteen men, with 
long knives, were to descend into the cellar, and pare away the ice in a 
silent manner. But it was not thefwill of Providence that the perilous 
attempt should be made. The scheme/ was exploded, as greater schemes 
have been, by thoughtlessness and imprudence. Two young men, without 
authority from the coimcil, descended into the cellar and began to pick the 
ic3, not with knives, but with ^hatchets. They were overheard by the 
sentry ; the guard was immediately doubled ; and the well-digested plan 
was defeated in a momeut. Tliis happened, as appears by Carleton's letter, 
March 31. 

The next morning an inquiry was made into the affair, and nothing would 
have been discovered but the attempt in the cellar. When Major Murray 
was l3aving the room, a prisoner, an Englishman, who had deserted from 
the British at Boston, and joined^Arnold, rushed by him to escape the ven- 
geance of his companions, saying to him that he had something to disclose. 
The traitor revealed the whole plan, iu consequence of which there soon 
arrived several cart-loads of irons, such as bilboes, foot-hobbles, and hand- 
cuffs, and instead of finding themselves in the enjoyment of the sweets of 
liberty, the poor wretches found themselves in chains. The bilboes were 
long bars of iron, to which ten men were fastened by the feet. In a few 
days many were able to extricate themselves from their irons, by saws 
made from knives, and in oth^r ways. They suffered miserably from the 
scurvy, and from a diarrhoea occasioned by the water. It was not before 
th3 month of May, after the arrival of reinforcem3nts to the British, and 
the retreat of the American army, that the irons were struck off". 

(19.) General Thomas, who was appointed to succeed Montgomery, arrived early in 
May ; but Carleton having received reinforcements under Burgoyne, the 
Americans were obliged to make a hasty retreat, leaving their stores and 
sick behind. The latter were kindly treated, and finally sent home. — Loss- 
ing^s Field- Book of the Revolution^ Vol. l,p. 202. 



34 



(20.) Sir Gcy Carleion was a native of Ireland, and was born in 1722. He entered 
the army at an early age, and was, in 1748, a Lieutenant colonel in the 
Guards. He was Vith Amherst, in Ame.-ica, and was afterwards at the 
taking of Havana. In 1772 he was made Major-General, and appointed 
Governor of Qiebec, which he successfully defended against the assault of 
the Americans. By his energy and judgment , he saved the whole of Canada 
from falling into their hands. In 1781 he was appointed Commander-in- 
chief of the forces in America, and in 1786 became again Governor of Quebec ; 
and. as a reward for his long services, was raised to the peerage, as Lord 
Dorciiester. He died in 1808, at the age of 83. 

(21.) Return J. Meigs was a native of Middletowu, Connecticut, and was born in 
December, 1740. He was at the siege of Quebec, and was made prisoner in 
the assault. On his release he was promoted to Colonel. His expedition 
toLonglslaud, in May, 1777, was one of the most brilliant enterprises of 
the war, for which he received, August 3, the thanks of Congress and a 
sword. He was afterwards at the storming of Stony Point, under Wayne, 
where he distinguished himself, and was honorably noticed for his conduct 
on that occasion. After the peace he moved to the West, and died at the 
Cherokee Agency, January 28, 1823, aged 82 years. 

(22.) Sergeant Thomas Boyd was a member of Smith's company, from Pennsylvania. 
He was afterwards in the expedition against the Indians, under General 
Sullivan. He was taken prisoner while on a reconnoitering expedition, and 
was barbarously murdered by the Indians on the 13th day of September, 
1779. His head was taken off and totally skinned, his right eye taken out, 
and also his tongue. His right foot, from the ball of the heel to the toes, 
was laid open, as if with a knife. He was cut open across the bottom of his 
belly and his bowels were taken out, and a very long knife stuck in between 
his shoulders, descending to the vital parts. His corpse was afterwards 
discovered by his friends, and decently interred near Genessee Castle, to- 
gether with the remains of :\Iichacl Parker, one of his companions in the 
expedition.— fle«r]/"s Journal, p. 203. 

(23.) "We are now, after much suffering, two leagues distant from Quebec, where 
we shall arrive this evening, but where we shall not make any stay — Gen- 
eral Carleton having, before our arrival, driven the rebels from the environs 
of Quebec, and being at present engaged in their pursuit."— ifadawe de 
ReideseVs Journal, p. 25. 



